Waste-reclamation system



May 21, 1929 E. s. PEARCE 1,713,711

WASTEBECLAMATION "SYSTEM Filed Dec. 5, 1925 2 sheets-s eet 1 May 21, 1929.

E. s'. PEARCE V WASTE RECLAMATION SYSTEM Filed Dec. 3, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 2 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN S. PEARCE, F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN rauunar'ivracnmnar COMPANY, or NOBWOOD, onro, A coaroaarron or wAsTn-nEcLAMa'rioN srsrnm.

Application filed I Jecember 3, 1925. Serial No. 72,977.

' This invention relates to methods and apparatus for reclaiming or renovating our nal box waste, its' object being to provide an 1mproved system of efficient and well balanced 5 'conjointly operating apparatus for efiectively cleaning old waste, both mechanically and by separation of its oilmcontent, re1mpregnating thecleaned waste with fresh Oll and reclaiming the old. or usedoil" for fur ther use, all in a manner to conserve heat and reduce the final cost of the product.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 represents diagrammatically a plan view of a system of apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof on the line 2-2,

Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a detail sectional elevation on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

The journal, box waste to be reclaimed is collected or received'in suitable containers,

such as metal drums, which are brought to the building marked generally A containing the reclamation plant or system to be described.

- Thiswaste is received in various conditions,

containing various amounts of oil, short orv coarse fibres and foreign matter. To bring it to nearly uniform condition and open up its texture and fibre, it is first soaked or immersed in a hot oil bath, for which purpose I provide a plurality, two being shown,-of hot oil tanks 1, which are arranged adjacent and in parallel relation to each other with an aisle 2 between them and which tanks may be of metal, concrete or othermaterial and are shownas extending above the floor level. In said tanks are steam heating pipes or coils 3 connected to supply and return lines 4, 5 and at one end of each tank is a drain board 6. Two tanks are provided because their dimensions can be made such as to accommodate Y a reasonable mass of waste, capable of'being conveniently poled or forked around by the workmen so as to open upthe waste and secure full flow of oil to all of its fibres. In said tanks some of the heavier foreign matter and large coarse fibres or masses collect at'the bottom and may be removed with the sludge by periodical tank cleaning.

When the mass has soaked for a suficient length of time a quantity is poled or forked out and is piled upon either drain board 6 from which excess or free oil drains back into the tank 1.

Adjacent each drain board is a suitable centrifugal extractor 7, comprising a stationary outer curb or casing in which rotates a foraminous basket or container for the waste, the centrifugal effect at high speed causing the oil tofbe thrown out from the basket and to becollected in the curb, from which it is conducted by drain pipes 8 to a sump or pit 9, preferably below the fioor level, and which serves as a reservoir for the old oil. Said sump is heated by the steam pipes or coils 10 that also connect to supply and return lines at and 5. In the extractors 7 the oil content of the waste-is reduced to a small amount,

something lessthantlie amount required for fresh oiled waste ready for journal box use, so that it is necessary to later add a proper quantity ofclean oil to bringthe oil content up to the required amount. More important, however, the oil content at the conclusionof the extracting period has always been reduced to a definite or uniform standard amount, so that all extracted waste can be treated alike in later stages with assurance of a-standard product.

The next step in the process is that of mechanical cleaning, to wit, the fiuffing up of the waste to open its texture and fibres and the removal of short or coarse fibres and foreignmatter. This is performed in a drying tumbler indicated conventionally at 11 and comprising an outer casing in which is mounted a rotatable perforated baffled or ribbed drum 11" for containing the waste; and through which drum air may be circulated by a fan or any other suitable means which air is heated by the steam pipes or coils 12 connected to the supply and discharge mains 4, 5. As the mass of extracted waste is turned over and over in this drum, the short and coarse fibres and foreign matter, such as dirt and metal chips, pass through the openings of the drum and are collected and thereby separated, while the usable fibres are openedup and knotted masses of fibres are separated.

Experience has shown that a standard drying tumbler, such as can be obtained in the 100 open market, will satisfactorily handle the output of two ordinary extractors, which is ventionally at 13 and may be of the general type shown in my prior application for methods of and'apparatus for impregnating waste fibrous material with oil, filed February 17, 1925, Serial No. 9,899,- to'which reference may be had if necessary. The impregnator conventionally shown comprises two like tanks 14 with both of which cooperates an inverted piston like cover 15 movable by the swinging arm 16 into position over either tank. The cover has an upwardly projecting tubular portion 17 closed at its upper end and adapted when the cover slides down in the tank to sleeve over an upwardly projecting'suctionpipe 18, one in each tank, connected to a source 19 of suction or vacuum. In one of the empty tanks 14 is placed a proper quantity of the cleaned substantially oil free waste, the quantity being determined by suitable measurement or weight. By a measuring pump 20, hand operated if desired, a proper measured quantity of clean oil is conducted through the discharge pipe 21 and through its swinging end 22 or a hose is fedinto the tank. The cover is then applied and by exhaustingthe air through pipe 18 by means of the suction or vacuum source 19, said cover ismoved down until it compresses the waste.

Further suction eifect removes practically all air and causes the oil to fully penetrate even the finest interstices or spaces in or between the fibres. In a short time the impregnative step is completed and the finished product may be withdrawn and packed for shipment. 'The clean oil charge is, of course, accurately measured so that each pound of the final waste will-contain a predetermined standard amount of oil. Two impregnating tanks are used so that while impregnation is going on in one tank the other tank may be emptied and filled with a fresh charge of waste to be impregnated, thus keeping all apparatus busy with the minimum number of operators.

To supply oil as needed to the soaking tanks 1, I have provided a suitable pump 23 shown as driven by a suitable motor 24, either steam or electric, said pump having its inlet pipe 25 extending to a low level in the sump and its discharge pipe 26 provided with branches, one for each tank. Said pump also has its discharge pipe connected to supply old oil to the renovator 27 which may be of any desired form adapted to separate solid and liquid impurities from the oil and conserve the useful lubricant for further use. Such renovator, for example, may be of the form shown in my prior application for apparatus forand method of treating oil, filed February 10, 1925, Serial No. 8,121, to which reference may be had if necessary. renovator, of course, would include in the system some storage tank, such as indicated at 28, for containing or holding the renovated oil, and would be connected to the steam lines 4, 5 for supplying steam for heating the oil, if necessary, and for maintaining the oil supply hot. The clean oil tank 28 is connected to the hand pump 20 which supplies oil to the impregnator. I

With this system, allparts of the apparatus are properly balanced and related to each other, both in size or capacity and in 'location. The waste progresses through the system by the shortest paths and with the least possible handling. Heat is always conserved by the storage supplies both of old and cleaned oil, because when the entire system is in operation the regular travel of the Oil from the tanks 1 to the extractors, thence to the sump, thence to either the tanks 1 or to the renovator 27 and from the latter directly to the impregnator is such that only a small amount of the original heat is wasted by radiation. Other advantages will appear to those skilled in the art.

Sediment may gather in both tanks 1 and sump 9, and in order to keep sediment from accumulating on the heating pipes 3 and 10 respectively at the bottom of these tanks, have provided protecting screens 30.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for reclaiming waste, comprising a soaking tank for the waste to be reclaimed, an extractor for separating the oil of the waste fromthe fibrous part thereof, an

old oil storage tank connected to said extractor for recelving therefrom the 011 re moved from said waste and having a connection to said soaking tank for supplying oil thereto for soaking purposes, a mechanical device for cleaning the fibrous waste part after removal of the oil therefrom an impregnator for impregnating with oil said fibrous waste part, and means for supplying oil to said impregnator for impregnation purposes.

Any

2. Apparatus for reclaiming waste, comprising a soaking tank for the waste to bereclaimed, an extractor for separating the 'Oil of the waste from the fibrous part thereof, an old oil storage tank connected to said extractor for receiving therefrom the oil re- .moved from said waste and having a conned tion to said soaking tank for supplying oil thereto for soaking purposes, amechanical device for cleaning the fibrous waste part after removal of the oil therefrom, an impreg-' duit means leading from said renovator to said impregnator for supplying renovated oil to said impregnator.

3. Apparatus for reclaiming waste, comprising a soaking tank for the waste to be reclaimed, an extractor for separating the oil of the waste from the fibrous part'thereof, an

' old oil storage tank connected to said extractor for receiving therefrom the oil removed from said waste and having a connection to said soaking tank for supplying oil thereto for soaking purposes,- a mechanical device for cleaning the fibrous waste part after removal of the oil therefrom, an impregnator for impregnating with oil said fibrous waste part, means for supplying oil to said impregnator for impregnation purposes, and heating means for the oil in said soaking tank, storage tank and said renovator.

4. Apparatus for reclaiming waste, comprising a soaking tank for the waste to be reclaimed, an extractor for separating the oil of the waste from the fibrous part thereof, an old oil storage tank connected to said extractor for receiving therefrom the oil removed froin said waste and having a connection to said soaking tank for supplying oil thereto for soaking purposes, a mechanical device for cleaning the fibrous waste part after removal of the oil therefrom, an impregnator for impregnating with oil said fibrous Waste part, a renovator connected to said storage tank for receiving therefrom the oil removed from the fibrous waste part, conduit means leading from said renovator to said impregnator for supplying renovated oil to said impregnator, and heating means for the oil in said soaking tank, storage tank and said renovator.

5. Apparatus for reclaiming waste, comprising two soaking tanks for the Waste to be reclaimed, two extractors, one for each soaking tank, for separating the oil of the waste from the fibrous part thereof, and a. single mechanical cleaner for receiving from both extractors the fibrous part of the Waste for mechanically cleaning the same.

6. Apparatus for reclaiming waste, comprising two soaking tanks for the waste to be reclaimed, two extractors, one for each soaking tank, for separating the oil of the waste from the fibrous part thereof, and a single mechanical cleaner for receiving from both extractors the fibrous part of the waste for mechanically cleaning the same, and an impregnator for impregnating with oil the fibrous partof the waste cleaned in said mechanical cleaner.

7. Apparatus for reclaiming waste, com prising two soaking tanks for the waste to be reclaimed, two extractors, one for each soaking. tank, for separating the oil of the waste from the fibrous part thereof, a single mechanical cleaner for receiving from both extractors the fibrous part of the waste for mechanically cleaning the same, and a storage tank connected to both of said extractors for receiving therefrom, the oil extracted fromthe waste.

8. Apparatus for reclaiming waste, comprising two soaking tanks for the waste to reclaimed, two extractors, one for each soak ing tank, for separating the oil of'the waste.

from the fibrous part thereof, a single mechanical cleaner for receiving from both-ex tractors the fibrous part of the waste for mechanically cleaning the same, an impregnator for impregnating with oil the fibrous part of the waste cleaned in said mechanical cleaner, and a storage tank connected to both of said extractors for receiving therefrom the oil extracted from the waste.

9. Apparatus for reclaiming waste, comprising two soaking tanks for the waste to be reclaimed, two extractors, one for each soaking tank, for separating the oil of the waste from the fibrous part thereof, a single mechanical cleaner" for receiving from both extractors the fibrous partfof the waste for tractors the fibrous part of the waste for mechanically cleaning the same, an impregnator for impregnating with oil the fibrous part of the waste cleaned in said mechanical cleaner, a storage tank connected to both of said extractors for receiving therefrom the oil extracted from the waste, and having connections to said-soakingtanks for supplying oil thereto for the soaking operations.

11'. Apparatus for reclaiming waste, comprising two soaking tanlzs for the waste to be reclaimed, two extractors, one for-each soaking tank, for separating the oil of the waste from the fibrous part thereof, a single mechanical cleaner for receiving from both extractors the fibrous part of the waste for mechanically cleaning the same, a storage tank connected to both of said extractors for receiving therefrom the oil extracted from the waste, and an oil renovator connected to said storage tank for receiving the oil removed from the fibrous waste part.

' 12. Apparatus for reclaiming waste, comprising two soaking tanks for the waste to be reclaimed, two extractors, one for each soaking tank, for separating the oil of the waste from the fibrous part thereof, a single mechanical cleaner for recelving from both extractors the fibrous part of the waste for I mechanically cleaning the "same, an impregnator for impregnating with oil the fibrous part of the waste cleaned in said mechanical cleaner, 2, storagetank connected to both of said extractors for receiving therefrom the on extracted from the waste, an'oil renovate! connected to saidstorage tank for receiving 4 therefrom the oil removed from the fibrous waste part, and conduit means leading from said renovatoz to said impregnator fOIj de- 10 livering renovated oii'from the former to the latter.-

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

EDWIN s. PEARCE. 

